Highly-multiplexed microwave SQUID readout using the SLAC Microresonator Radio Frequency (SMuRF) Electronics for Future CMB and Sub-millimeter Surveys

TL;DR

The paper introduces SMuRF, a new microwave readout system for superconducting sensors, demonstrating high multiplexing density, low noise, and effective tone tracking, suitable for future CMB and submillimeter surveys.

Contribution

Development and validation of the SMuRF system, a novel warm readout for microwave SQUID multiplexers, enabling high-density, low-noise, and linear readout for large sensor arrays.

Findings

Achieved successful closed-loop tone tracking on 528 channels.

Demonstrated low readout noise and high linearity in the SMuRF system.

Potential application in future CMB experiments like CMB-S4 and Simons Observatory.

Abstract

The next generation of cryogenic CMB and submillimeter cameras under development require densely instrumented sensor arrays to meet their science goals. The readout of large numbers ($\sim$10,000--100,000 per camera) of sub-Kelvin sensors, for instance as proposed for the CMB-S4 experiment, will require substantial improvements in cold and warm readout techniques. To reduce the readout cost per sensor and integration complexity, efforts are presently focused on achieving higher multiplexing density while maintaining readout noise subdominant to intrinsic detector noise. Highly-multiplexed cold readout technologies in active development include Microwave Kinetic Inductance Sensors (MKIDs) and microwave rf-SQUIDs. Both exploit the high quality factors of superconducting microwave resonators to densely channelize sub-Kelvin sensors into the bandwidth of a microwave transmission line. We present advancements in the development of a new warm readout system for microwave SQUID multiplexing, the SLAC Superconducting Microresonator RF electronics, or SMuRF. The SMuRF system is unique in its ability to track each tone, minimizing the total RF power required to read out each resonator, thereby significantly reducing the linearity requirements on the cold and warm readout. Here, we present measurements of the readout noise and linearity of the first full SMuRF system, including a demonstration of closed-loop tone tracking on a 528 channel cryogenic microwave SQUID multiplexer. SMuRF is being explored as a potential readout solution for several future CMB projects including Simons Observatory, BICEP Array, CCAT-prime, Ali-CPT, and CMB-S4. Parallel development of the platform is underway to adapt SMuRF to read out both MKID and fast X-ray TES calorimeter arrays.